“I enjoy challenging students to engage in hands-on scientific inquiry. In fact, I’m always telling my students and colleagues that I don’t want our students to think and act like scientists. I want them to think and act as scientists. Here are three things we can do to make that happen.” (more)

“First, let it be said: black history is American history. But observing Black History Month in the month of February gives us a chance to focus on a part of our shared history that the founder, Carter G. Woodson, observed was at risk of disappearing. Of course it is wonderful to recognize the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. But there are lots of ways to go beyond the typical inventors and sports heroes so that every child can connect to and learn from the amazing contributions of the African-American community. Here are just some of our favorite Black History Month activities for the classroom.” (more)

“Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned veteran, it’s a question you know you’re going to hear time and time again: “Why do I have to do this?” It has the tendency to come at very inconvenient times: in the middle of a mini-lesson, during a complicated transition, or moments before, during, or after a detailed presentation. But have you ever really thought about how important—or how complex—that one question really is? The truth is, it’s one you should be able to answer, and answer well. Today, Education World deconstructs “why do I have to do this?” in hopes of revealing what it truly is: an earnest and reasonable call for meaning.” (more)

“My message is not necessarily that parents are important (we know this) but you must do what you can to get parents involved in your school. I would make phone calls, emails, hand out invitation to meet with me when I was a principal to parents as they dropped off and picked up their children, used message boards, etc. I would not stop “hounding parents” to get them involved with the school.” (more)

“In the wake of yet another deadly school shooting in the United States, one health specialist offers advice on how to ease children’s fears about acts of terror and violence. Consider the child’s age and emotional maturity when weighing the right time to discuss such tragedies, recommends Dr. Hannah Chow, a pediatrician at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Ill. “The older they are, the quicker you should tell them. You want to get in front of any misinformation, as they may have already heard the news from another source,” she said in a Loyola news release.” (more)